Category Archives: journaling

Handwriting Self-Hate

Handwriting Self-Hate

There are a lot of scrapbookers out there that refuse to write on their pages because they hate their handwriting. (You know who you are!) I can understand that. After all, my own handwriting is nothing to write home about. (Ha! See what I did there?)

My handwriting is a weird combination of printing and cursive, with bad habits exaggerated through a long history of working retail. (Working two jobs, with one always being a bookstore, paid off all my student loans and my first car!) My husband thinks it’s horrible, and my kids often have trouble reading it.

That doesn’t stop me though, and it shouldn’t stop you. As my mother says, you don’t have to be famous for your handwriting to be valuable. Think about it this way:

Things that are handmade are intrinsically more valuable than machine produced items. Items that are scarce are more valuable than items that are common. Items that were once common are becoming uncommon. Your handwriting is valuable because it is handmade, a finite resource (only YOU can write like you!), and is becoming more and more scarce as time goes by. (Think about how much you wrote by hand while in school, and how much less you do now. You may type all day long at the computer, but how much do you write by hand?)

Case in point:

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This is a recipe my grandmother sent to my mother when she was in the service. Thereabouts. My mom lived on the other side of the country from my grandmother for quite a few years, back in the days when long distance phone calls were expensive, and snail mail was one of the best ways to stay in touch. And that’s the point. This handwritten recipe not only calls to mind my grandmother’s love of sticky sweet things and baking in general, but it’s also a record and reminder of how things have changed.

Your handwriting has value, both on a personal, emotional level, and as a cultural artifact!

But that’s enough deep thoughts for today. Later this week, I’ll link you up to some great ways to improve your handwriting, and get it on the pages you make!

 

Out of the Closet and Onto a Page!

Out of the Closet and Onto a Page!

Now that you’ve gathered your old photos together, and taken a walk down memory lane with them, are you ready to create a page with them?

Did you take a few notes about stories you could talk about using the photos you put aside? Based on the photos I pulled out, I had notes for six stories. Six!

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Taking a second look at my photos, I decided which story would work best with the photos I had, and selected which ones to use. I’ll use the other photos, along with the notes I took, on one or more pages later.

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This captured a few stories actually, on one page. By tying together the ideas regarding my lack of practice, a broadening of my musical world, and a favorite teacher, I was able to turn it into story.

What stories did you think of when you pulled out your photos? Is there a common thread you can use to tie everything together? Make a page and share it with me! I’d love to see what you create!

If you are looking for a place to share the things you make, you could join my new Flickr group. You can find me here: No Excuse Scrapbooking. It’s so new, there’s only one photo in it!

Week in the Life: What to Document

Week in the Life: What to Document

When many people think of documenting a week of their life, they immediately put up road blocks. “My life’s not interesting,” “I don’t do anything,” “I’m boring,” are all phrases I’ve heard people say when approaching the idea of documenting daily life.

First of all, none of those statements are true. You don’t really think your life is boring, do you? Aren’t you utterly absorbed in what you do every day? That’s not boring, that’s routine. While you may think your routine is boring, it really isn’t, especially when you realize that it changes over time. By documenting it now, you are making yourself your very own time capsule, that you can dig up at any time.

Second of all, stop putting yourself down. When you are saying your life isn’t worth documenting, you are devaluing yourself. You are worth knowing. Your life is worth sharing. Please take the time to do a project like this. You’ll be surprised at how much you do, and when you look back, you’ll be surprised at how much you’ve forgotten.

One of the realities of life is that horrible experiences are so much easier to remember. The good days, the routine days, those are easily forgotten. If you document your daily life, you’ll be able to hold on to the wonderful bits that make life so worthwhile just a little longer.

The other big road block people create when they think of this project is to say that they can’t take that many photos, or record everything they do. True, this may be harder than usual, but it is easier than you think.

First, try to keep a camera handy regularly. Use the camera in your phone if you don’t have your actual camera in hand. Put your camera next to the bed, so it’s the first thing you see in the morning, and you’ll remember to use it right as you start your day. Try to enlist your family to help. I’ll be trying to talk my husband and kids into taking pictures while they are at work and school, but they may not play along. If you run out of ideas of things to take pictures of, I’ve got a list you can print out with lots of ideas for you.

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Downloadable Photos to Take Printable

Second, keep a few little notebooks handy so you can record random thoughts during the day, and the things the people around you say. The photo print out will also work as story prompts, and I’ve got two printables with some tried and true journaling techniques for you as well.

First up: download stop drop and write. This is a couple sheets formatted to be printed on a Simple Stories journaling insert. Set a timer to go off at half hour intervals throughout the day, and write down what you are doing or thinking, or what is going on around you. Keep it short and sweet. Twitter, not Michener. Next, I have some he said, she said prompts you can print right on your 4×6 journaling cards. These are intended to be used when someone says or does something that you find very memorable.

Remember, this is a project you CAN do, and you will treasure it when it’s done. Next week, I’ll be sharing up some of the pictures and stories I capture, and the following week, I’ll work on assembling the album with you. This is a fun and extremely do-able project. Are you going to join me?

Documenting Your Not So Perfect Life

Documenting Your Not So Perfect Life

As I said on Monday, I’ll be documenting a week of my life in May. I’ve done the Week in a Life project once before, and I love the album that resulted from it. Take a look, and let me know what you think.

front cover

front cover

I used a three ring binder from Target for my album, and stamped the front using a metallic craft paint and foam letter stamps.

title page

title page

When I stamp, I am not really concerned with how well my letters align. I like the imperfection of crooked, slightly askew letters.

Monday  one

Monday one

I used the foam stamps and more metallic craft paint to stamp the first letter of each day of the week. I also used the divided page protector to add more space for journaling and photos.

monday two

Monday two

Started off strong with lots of journaling and a decent selection of photos. Don’t expect every day to go that well. Some days, you’ll forget to take pictures, and others, you’ll forget to take any notes till the end of the day.

Tuesday one

Tuesday one

Case in point: not many pictures. I just added more patterned paper to fill in the extra spaces.

Tuesday two

Tuesday two

One of the nicer photos I have of my husband.

Wednesday one

Wednesday one

It’s important to try to get yourself into your stories. Try setting up the self timer on your camera, and catching yourself in action. You’ll probably get a better picture of yourself this way, than by posing uncomfortably in front someone else.

Wednesday two

Wednesday two

Somedays, you’ll really forget the camera. It’s really okay. For Thursday, I just left the divided page protector out.

Thursday

Thursday

Sometimes you get great photos of your kids in action, and other times, the whole family mugs as soon as they notice the camera pointed their way. It’s all good.

Friday one

Friday one

Things I wish I had done more of: detail photos of routines like dinner and school.

Friday two

Friday two

That Saturday was so hot! As in swimming pool hot. I wouldn’t remember that if I hadn’t made this book.

Saturday one

Saturday one

I did get some detail shots, like my mother’s strawberry planter, and a close up of my youngest’s favorite shirt. Love catching everyone in action.

Saturday two

Saturday two

This used to be a very common sight in our backyard. Dog and boy chasing each other around like mad men. Now we’re in a new home, and they play together much differently.

Sunday one

Sunday one

Try to get detail shots and wide angle shots that show how everyone is interacting. That makes for a more interesting story, visually.

Sunday two

Sunday two

For the closing page, I used two of my favorite photos from the week. I probably could have elaborated a bit more, but didn’t feel the need.

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Closing page

So, what do you think? Do you want to make something like this? You can, you know.

I’ll be sharing how I prepare for this in the weeks ahead, and my documentation and assembly process as well. The week I’ll be documenting is May 5-12. You can join me then, or pick your own week to document. It’s a fun process. Play with me!

There’s No Such Thing as Perfect

There’s No Such Thing as Perfect

Everyday we attempt to live productive lives. Lives filled with families and friends, jobs and commitments. Occasionally, we squeeze in time for ourselves. We are in constant search for that perfect mix, that equation that equals balance between home and work, self and other.

There’s no such thing. Sometimes, you will need to concentrate on work, and your home will suffer. (Anyone want to wash my dishes?) Sometimes you need to make time for yourself, and your family and friends are temporarily of secondary importance. It all changes, it’s all in flux.

The details of your life are not the same for every day of your life, even if you think they are. Don’t believe me? I can prove it, because I scrapbook.

In April of 2010, I participated in Ali Edwards’ Week in the Life project that she does every year. That year, during that week, I was working on prepping my MIL’s house for sale, my husband was driving the kids to school, and I taught two classes at the local JoAnn etc. This year? We’re in a different house, down to one car, so the kids and my husband ride buses to school and work, and I am working from home.

So much time has passed since, and so much has changed, I am going to do another Week in the Life project. Ali’s not doing her week until the fall, but I don’t want to wait that long. I’m thinking I will  document a week in May: the 6th through the 12th. That will give me some time to decide on structure and contents, which I will share with you as I create them.

Join me?

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Your life changes. Every single day is different, and interesting for its own sake. It’s not perfect, but it is just right. Don’t make excuses, just document it. You won’t regret it.